On "Reform Day" State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) called for redistricting reform through passage of S.487, a bill she co-sponsors along with State Senator John Bonacic (R-Mount Hope).

"When I first ran for office in 2002, I vowed to work to solve the 'Albany Syndrome,'" said Senator Krueger. "We have made progress in the past six years but much more needs to be done. One of the major obstacles still preventing real change in Albany is the partisan process of gerrymandering legislative districts."

State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) joined her Senate Democratic colleagues and public health advocates today in calling for a ban on the new "Tier 4" pricing system, which could result in New York citizens facing thousand of dollars in additional drug costs.

Albany— State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) today praised Governor Paterson and the legislature for committing significant new resources to affordable housing construction and preservation and the restoration of cuts to key housing programs. Senator Krueger is the ranking Democratic member of the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development in the New York State Senate.

Albany— State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) today praised Governor Paterson and the legislature for committing significant new resources to affordable housing construction and preservation and the restoration of cuts to key housing programs. Senator Krueger is the ranking Democratic member of the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development in the New York State Senate.

Albany—State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) offered a motion to petition today to bring a bill, the Food Service Waste Reduction Act (S6402), to the floor for a vote of the full Senate. The bill is designed to lead to a statewide phase-out of all polystyrene (Styrofoam) products used in the food service industry. Senator Krueger's motion was defeated along party lines with Republican unanimously opposing it.

Governor Paterson today announced $1.45 million in grants to help build and renovate 122 units of affordable housing in New York State. The grants—to Kings, Onondaga and Yates counties—reinforce the Governor’s commitment to the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout the state.

Today’s grants were approved by the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC), which makes grants to not-for-profit housing organizations around the state to help subsidize the cost of newly constructed homes and the renovation of existing housing.

State Senator Liz Krueger praised New York City schools officials for their quick response to reports that a major supplier of beef to the school system had been using beatings and other abusive practices on cows too sick to pass inspections. The action came after a Humane Society video showed sick cows being beaten, kicked, shocked with electricity and dragged with chains to force them to stand so they could pass inspection. “This kind of abuse is unacceptable on humane grounds, and also puts our food supply at risk,” said Senator Krueger. “Animals too s

Message from Liz . . .Between March 31 st and April 3 rd , the Senate passed the nine bills that make up the State Budget. Debate was spirited, even rancorous, and while I don’t think any members were entirely happy with the results, I do believe that the budget we passed was an appropriate response to the deep fiscal crisis our State faces. We made the difficult choices we needed to make, and at the same time protected vital programs and advanced longdelayed policy goals that will make New York a more.....

New York City Council’s Housing and Buildings Committee heard testimony today from the Mayor’s Office, housing advocates, elected officials, and tenants in favor of Intro. 534, a bill introduced by Councilmember Gale Brewer to increase fines against property owners who operate illegal hotels in residential buildings.Since the Illegal Hotels Working Group (IHWG) was founded over two years ago, the illegal hotels problem has mushroomed into an epidemic threatening the available housing stock throughout Manhattan .

New York City Council’s Housing and Buildings Committee heard testimony today from the Mayor’s Office, housing advocates, elected officials, and tenants in favor of Intro. 534, a bill introduced by Councilmember Gale Brewer to increase fines against property owners who operate illegal hotels in residential buildings.

New York—State Senator Liz Krueger today applauded Governor Spitzer for enacting the New York State Toxic Mold Task Force, an initiative signed into law by former Governor Pataki more than two years ago, which was never activated.

"This summer, I sponsored a sign-on letter to the Governor asking him to act to create this Task Force to ensure that this law was worth more than the paper it was written on," Krueger explained.